Vote-recording machine



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J. McTAMMANY. VOTE RECORDING MACHINE.

No. 502,744. Patented Aug. 8, 1893.

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J. MGTAMMANY. VOTE RECORDING MACHINE.

No.502,744. I Patented Aug. 8, 1893.

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VOTE RECORDING MACHINE.

' No. 502,744. Patented Aug. 8, 1893. k

1. S S b" S 5 0mm $000@@@ IS a IHE m UUQ Ug wil UNITE STATES PATENTOFFICE.

JOHN MCTAMMANY, OF SPENCER, MASSACHUSETTS.

VOTE-RECORDING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 502,744, dated August8, 1893.

Application filed October 31, 1892. Serial No. 450,570. (No model.)

Toall whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN MOTAMMANY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Spencer, in the county of \Vorcester and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inBallot-Boxes and Voting Mechanism; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same.

This invention relates to ballot boxes and voting mechanism providedwith a fixed ballot or list of candidates and a traveling tallysheet onwhich indications are made through slots corresponding in position tothe names of the candidates, the feeding of the said sheet beingeifected by opening the cover of the ballot-box. Devices of this sortare shown for example in my application for patent, Serial No. 448,011,filed October (5, 1892. The present invention is an improvement thereon;and has for itschief objects to provide for feed ing the tally-sheet byraising ahinged cover instead of moving back a sliding one; to allow thereversal of the feeding, for confusing the identity of voters andpreventing detection; to enable the official in charge to feed thesheeta predetermined distance independently of the cover; to supplymeans for writing a I name on a correspondingly arranged supplementalsheet in cases where no mark on the main tally sheet opposite any nameregularly in nomination will express his choice;

and to puncture the paper instead of marking it superficially, as in theaforesaid application.

My invention consists in the devices hereinafter described and claimedfor eifecting these results and in certain additional features ofconstruction and combination, all as hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 represents a perspective View ofmyiinproved ballot box or voting machine arranged within a voting booth.Figs. 2 and 3 represent vertical sections through said machine fromfront to rear on the lines x0c and y-y of Fig. 4 but looking in oppositedirections. Fig. 4 represents a plan View of the same, and Figs. 5 to 10represent detail views.

A designates the strong metallic frame and case of the machine. The topof the said case is provided with slots a, through which the names andresidences of the candidates are seen, as well as abbreviationsindicating the political parties to which they respectively belong, andthe titles of the offices which they seek or any other relevant matter.These names and items are printed on strips of paper which are glued tothe under side of a plate forming part of the said top, the slots andthe intervening metal making openwork above them, and the wholeconstituting in effect afixed list of candidates with the informationnecessary to a choice. Some of the slots a have no names or strips belowthem, in order that a supplemental tally sheet or voting sheethereinafter described may be reached through themfor writing thereon thename of a person chosen for any office by an individual voter, althoughnot regularly in nomination. There should be one of these blank spacesunder the head of each ofiice. The top of the said ballot box is alsoprovided with a line of small slots or openings A arranged opposite thevarious names and other words. Through each of these openings A apunching blade B works, and also through a guide casing C under the saidtop, it being provided with a push button C to allow thumb-pressure andwith a spring C beneath the said button. For convenience and to avoidall risk of pressing the wrong button or two buttons at a time, thesebuttons are arranged alternately at different heights. The slots andbuttons may also be arranged to alternate in lateral position, everysecond slot being set out so as to form a second line or row asindicated in Fig. 5, these blades or sliding stems B working in slots Bin a plate below the tally sheet hereinafter described. Instead of thesebuttons and punches, a single punching key D Fig. 7 may be used, whichwill pass through any of the holes or slots A": Additional holes A A areprovided at the ends of the line of said slots, beingpreferably ofdifferent form. These are adapted to receive a punching implement Dcarried or kept by the officer in charge of the voting booths, the useof which is to indicate a challenged vote when pressed through opening Aand the tally sheet below, or a canceled vote when pressed likewisethrough opening A Thus if the voter makes a mistake in voting anddesires to cancel his vote, the said implement D through opening or slotA will effect this result for him. To separate the spaces appropriatedto the candidates for each office and prevent a voter from punchingopposite the title thereof by mistake, I make use of small metallicplugs, one of which, marked E, is shown in Fig. 8. These have short fiatstems which fit into the slots thus to be filled and are shifted fromone to another according to the requirements of space for the number ofcandidates in any election.

To facilitate choice, each button 0 has the initial marked on it of theparty to which the candidate belongs whose name is opposite; as D. forDemocratic, R. for Republican. But since the position of such names mustvary in successive elections, it being common to arrange themalphabetically under each title heading, it becomes desirable to makethe said buttons interchangeable on their shanks or blades. This iseffected by screwing the button on a stem 0 at the upper end of itsshank or blade as shown in section in Fig. 9, so that for example abutton marked D may be detached and moved to the stem of a shank whichhas borne some other initial, all the stems and screw-threadscorresponding, or any other method of attachmentallowinginterchangeability may be employed.

The top of the case A consists of plates of metal or other strongmaterial individually fastened to the remainder of the body thereof. Themiddle plate contains the slots to and has the ballot strips or stripsmaking up the list of candidates fastened to it, so as to be removabletherewith. The removal of a list after election is efiected byunfasteniug this plate and then detaching the list therefrom in anyconvenient manner.

F designates the cover of the ballot-box or balloting machine, which ishinged or pivoted in bearingsf on the top of the said case A near therear thereof, and closes forward and downward so as to cover the slots Aand the push buttons 0' and prevent voting until raised. It consists, asshown, of a U-shaped rod or bar G, having attached to it a flat plate G,whereby the slots and buttons are covered. The said rod near its bentpivoted ends is provided with two inwardly extending studs g and g. Thestud gof one side of the frame enters a perforation h in the upper endof a link bar H, the lower end of which is attached to the rear end of alever I that is pivoted by its middle to the inside of case A and isprovided with two impeliing pawls JJattached to it one on each side ofits pivotal point, these pawls being-arranged to operate in oppositedirections in order-thatthetally-sheet may be fed either forward orbackward at will. For effecting this, one pawl is moved into positionfor engagement with the ratchet-wheel on which it operates and the otherpawl is turned back out of position of engagement with the ratchetwheelwhich it operates, the relative positions of these pawls being reversedwhen the tallysheet is to move the other way. There are two of theseratchet wheels K and K engaging respectively with these pawls, as theirletters indicate, and mounted on the shafts Z l of the winding rolls L Lto which the ends of the main tally-sheet M are attached. To preventslipping and insure that the sheet shall move only as far as desired,friction springs m are employed between the ends of the rolls and theframe or casing A. A spring m at one end of each roll will suffice asshown. These springs surround the shafts but do not impede them.Whenever the said cover is raised, the link-bar H, lever I and one ofthe said pawls and ratchet-wheels will automatically feed thetally-sheet M in one direction or the other, according to which of thepawls is then in use, the feed-motion being far enough to move theindications made by the voter last preceding below the solid part of thecase-top and present a fresh portion of the said sheet below the slots Aand the key or punchers. The slotted plate or frame B hereinbeforealluded to extends transversely across the interior of the said case Abeing rigidly attached thereto at its ends, and has its upper faceraised above the level of the said winding rolls so as to hold taut thetallysheet passing over it, and present this immediately below thepunchers orpunching blades of the said push buttons, the slots B formedin the said plate co-operating in the cutting action. This action is thesame when the detached key already described is used instead.

The advantage of being able to feed alternately in opposite directionsis that the detection of the vote of any one voter may therer by be madenearly impossible, the votes of different men being so mixed that onecannot be distinguished from the other. Thus the officers in charge mayfeed the sheet in one direction so as to leave a considerable blankspace before voting again occurs, and at any time thereafter turn backto this space and arrange the pawls for the sheet to be fed in theopposite direction; repeating such changes as often as may be thoughtbest. The same result of confused identities may be offected by othershiftings and arrangements.

The lever I is provided with a lateral handle l for lifting it by handat will, in order that the officer in charge may be able to space thetally-sheet by movingit forward a precise predetermined distancedepending on the limit of upward motion of the said lever, this beingeffected without touching the cover F or incidentally raising it farenough to ring the bell. Such motion leaves whenever desired a space ofimperforate paper on the tallysheet between the votes of two men.Repeated liftings of the said handle will make this space sufficient forthe reversing and confusing action above described.

0 designates a bell attached to the inner face of one side of the frameor casing A. It is struck by a hammer P that is pivoted to the saidframe. To this hammer a hook-bar R is pivoted at its lower end, aretracting spring Q being attached to the middle part of the saidhook-bar at its upper end and to the said frame at its lower end. Theupper end of the said bar R projects through a slot r in the top of thecasing and is provided with a hook R which extends over the stud gaforesaid, so that the raising of the cover F lifts this hook-bar andhammer against the resistance of the said spring, until the said studslips from the said hook owing to the curvilinear path which itdescribes in rising. The said spring then operates the hammer to strikethe bell. As this must be done whenever the cover is raised to feed thesheet, repeating is prevented.

S designates an additional or supplemental sheet of paper similar to themain tally sheet but running over a fixed platform T under the slots 0,so that it may be written on with a pencil or otherwise through theslots left uncovered by slips as already stated. This sheet is mountedon winding rolls U V and has its ends attached thereto. It is wound fromthe former to the latter by means of a crank handle W freely mounted onthe shaft 1) of the winding roll and carrying a pawl to which engages aratchet wheel X turning with said shaft and roll. WVhen a voter appearswho cannot find a name to please him in the list of regular candidatesfor any particular office he writes any name which he may prefer on thisauxiliary sheet in the space appropriated to such use as aforesaid.Afterward the officer in charge turns the said crank arm so as toadvance the said sheet far enough for the next voter to do the same, ifhe should so desire.

The general operation is as follows: The ballot-box or balloting machinebeing set up in the polling booth, marked Z, the voter enters and isgiven the puncturing key instead of a ballot, or if the push-buttons areused he is given nothing. Then he raises the cover F and in so doing bythe connections stated causes the bell to ring and the main tally sheetto be fed forward far enough to present a space for receivinghis vote.He then selects the names of his preference and punctures the sheet inthe proper places by the means described; or if so inclined writes aname or names on the auxiliary sheet, closes the cover, and Withdraws.The tally sheet and list of candidates are very securely protected bythe casing A against all intermeddling. The machine is strongly builtand noteasily put out of order. Of course several lists of candidatesand offices may be used instead of one only and the arrangement of thenames as well as the construction of details of mechanism may be verydifferent from what has been shown. The tally-sheet may be similar tothat shown in my application before mentioned or varied in any effectiveway. But it is preferably so ruled and headed that simple addition maysuffice to give the vote; and the names on the auxiliary sheet are soarranged with relation to the spaces for different offices on the listand to the corresponding punctures on the main-sheet that they areeasily added to the count.

In some places forms of ballots or candidate-lists are used which willmake it impossible to use the auxiliary sheet as shown, withoutmodification. In such circumstances it may be necessary to change theform or arrangement of the sheet or to employ several sheets instead ofone for this auxiliary service. Thus Fig. 10 illustrates, in plan,aseries of four small auxiliary sheets arranged and operating crosswiseto be used with the Cambridge ballot and the tally sheet appropriatethereto. Four sets of slotted plates must be employed with the latter.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a balloting machine, the combination of an operating leverattached to a fixed part, a winding roll provided with means engaged byan attachment of said lever, a tally sheet wound on the said roll, anapertured plate arranged below the said tally sheet and constituting abed therefor, a guide plate located above the said sheet and bed andhaving apertures coinciding with apertures in the lower plate, apuncturing device adapted to pass through the said apertures and thetally sheet and a list of candidates located in proximity to the saidlower plate and having its names arranged to correspond with theapertures therein substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with a tally sheet and a pair of rolls on which it iswound, a lever and connections for operating the said rolls and sheet, amovable cover provided with means for actuating the said lever, and ahandle attached to the said lever for adapting it to be operated also byhand substantially as set forth.

3. A tally sheet and rolls upon which it is mounted, in combination withwheels turning with the said rolls, devices arranged to turn one or theother of said wheels as they are thrown into or out of engagementtherewith, and operating in reverse directions, a movable cover, andconnections between the said cover and the said devices, in order thatthey may be actuated by moving the said cover from over the said sheetsubstantially as set forth.

i. A tally-sheet and rolls upon which it is mounted in combination withratchet wheels turning with the said rolls, a lever carrying pawls whichare arranged to engage at will the said ratchet wheels and to operate inopposite directions for reversing motion, a hinged cover, and a link barconnecting the said cover to the said lever in order that the raising ofthe former may feed the tally-sheet substantially as set forth.

5. A tally sheet and rolls on which it is mounted in combination with acover the raising of which allows access to the said tally sheet forpuncturing it, a hook bar engaging with a stud on the said cover, abell-hammer lever attached to the said hook bar, and a spring connectedto the said lever for operating the bell when the hook slips off fromthe said stud substantially as set forth.

6. In a balloting machine the combination of a movable cover, with alist of candidates arranged below the said cover, on the top of the box,a rib or guide casing having holes or slots corresponding with the nameson the said slip and extending within the said casing,aplate providedwith apertures arranged respectively below the holes orslots in the saidguide casing, a tally sheet which passes between these parts, andpunching devices operated through the said holes or slots to perforatethe said sheet substantially as set forth.

7. In combination with a tally sheet and a fixed list of candidates orobjects to be voted for in proximity thereto, a series of punching stemsor blades provided with interchangeable push-buttons which are markedwith initials indicating the respective parties in contest substantiallyas set forth.

8. In combination with a fixed list of candidates provided with openspaces at intervals, a main tally sheet an auxiliary tally sheet, meansfor feeding the said tally sheet under these openings in order that theymay be written on substantially as set forth.

9. In combination with the main tally sheet and feeding and markingmechanism therefor, an auxiliary tally sheet or voting sheet arranged inline therewith and a plate or top piece above the same provided withslots or openings over each of these sheets, the openings over thesupplemental tally sheet being of such size as to allow names to bewritten on it through them, and arranged opposite some of the slots inthe series above the main tally sheet substantially as set forth.

10. In combination with a slotted plate having some of its slots leftopen and the others occupied by the names of a list of candidates orobjects to be voted for, a table arranged under the said sheet to allowit to be written on through the open slots, and means for feedin g thesaid sheet substantially as set forth.

11. In a voting machine the combination of a traveling tally-sheet androlls on which it is wound in either direction with two fixed parts ofthe machine which leave a narrow passage or guideway between them, aticket or list of candidates attached to a fixed part of the machine, aseries of punches or cutting blades corresponding in number and positionto the candidates on the said list and arranged to operate through thepassages aforesaid substantially as set forth.

12. In a voting machine the combination of a traveling tally sheet androlls on which it is wound in either direction with feeding devices forthe said rolls and sheet, two fixed part s of the machine through whichthe sheet passes, a list of candidates arranged on the said machine, anda series of hand operated punches or cutting blades corresponding innumber and position to the candidates on the said list and operatingthrough passages in one of the said two parts to perforate the saidsheet, the feeding of the latter being unaffected by the action of thesaid punches but proceeding substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

13. In combination with a tally sheet and a pair of rolls on which it iswound,a lever and connections for operating the said rolls and sheet, amovable part provided with means for actuating the said lever,and ahandle attached to the said lever for adapting it to be operated also byhand substantially as set forth.

14. In voting mechanism the combination of a tally sheet and a hingedcover with connections whereby the lifting of the cover feeds the saidsheet, a supplemental sheet or sheets, and means for feeding the latterby hand, the said sheets being arranged and provided with means tosecure indications corresponding in position with respect to each otherand the names of the fixed ballot substantially as set forth.

15. In voting machines the combination of two tally sheets arranged inline with each other and means for independently feeding them with aplate located over the said sheets, and provided with openings a and Aarranged as shown, some of the former openings being left uncoveredwhile the remaining ones are filled with the names of a list ofcandidates for the purpose set forth.

16. In a balloting machine a friction spring m, in combination with atraveling tally-sheet its winding and rewinding rolls, the inclosingcasing and puncturing devices, the said spring being attached to theshaft of one of the said rolls, and located between one end of the saidroll and the said casing substantially as set forth.

17. In a votingmachine, the combination of a traveling tally sheet androlls on which it is wound in either direction, with feeding devices forthe said rolls and sheet, two fixed parts of the machine between whichthe sheet passes, a list of candidates arranged 011 the said machine,and a series of hand operated punches or cutting blades, correspondingin number and position to the candidates on said list and operatingthrough passages in one of the said two parts to perforate the saidsheet,

the feeding of the latter being unaffected by the action of the saidpunches but proceeding substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

J OIIN MOTAMMANY.

IVitnesses:

A. W. CURTIS, OHAs. P. BURTON.

